Recent rains have raised hopes that Zimbabwean farmers will be able to meet or exceed the target of growing 148,500 hectares of tobacco in 2023-2024, the Herald reported.
Statistics released by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that as of December 15, growers planted 55,170 hectares of tobacco, 27% less than last year. Zimbabwe suffered a drought at the start of the growing season.
However, the return of rains has triggered a planting frenzy and the area under cultivation of the crop is likely to increase significantly in the coming days.
George Seremwe, chairman of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association, said he believed the decline in planting area would be reversed.
Zimbabwe Tobacco Association chief executive Rodney Ambrose said recent rains had also boosted growth of already planted crops that were starting to show signs of water stress.
